Introduction

Wind power generators and fans are basically the same device. With a fan, the electricity is the input and the motion is the output. With a generator, the motion (from wind) is the input and the electricity is the output.

Activity

1. Check your tray. It should contain 6 objects: a motor/generator, a battery, an LED light bulb, a thumbtack, a bent paper clip, and a solar panel. Put a check mark in the Box 1 when you have identified them all.
2. Find the magnet. All motors/generators use a magnetic field, and most of them have a permanent magnet inside. In Box 2, tell where you found the magnet and how you knew it was there.
3. Run the motor. The motor has two electrical contacts on one side. Place two kinds of batteries against these contacts and see what happens. In Box 3, tell me what you learned about the batteries.
4. Plug in the light. Connect the two metal legs of the LED light bulb to the two contacts of the motor/generator. Spin the shaft each direction. In Box 4, tell me what you saw.
5. Make a pinwheel motor. Look at the examples in the room and make a pinwheel out of paper. Connect it to the shaft of the motor. In Box 5, tell me what you learned about making an effective pinwheel.
6. Make a pinwheel generator. Disconnect the battery, and plug the LED light bulb into the contacts. Bring your pinwheel to the fan, and see if the light will shine In Box 6, tell me how this is similar to an industrial wind-powered generator.